Tuesday, 18 November, 2025
A great inheritance!
"In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will" ( Ephesians 1:11ESV)
Almost all civilisations had something to say about inheritance. Essentially the home you were born to entitled you to receive certain goods or place with the coming of age and finally passage of one's parents. A child knew he would inherit something of value. For an inheritance was always something precious.
However, there is a case in the Bible of someone who did not value his inheritance. Once, after returning from a hunt, Esau asked his younger brother Jacob for a bowl of soup. “But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob” ( Gen 25:33).
It is said “Esau despised his birthright” (vv 35).
We too as believers have also an inheritance in Christ. By receiving and accepting Christ, we are born " into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.This inheritance is kept in heaven for you" ( I Peter 1:4). Two things can happen though. We can guard this inherentence jealously or, like Esau, we may just treat it carelessly. And how? Of course when we act in such a way that does not show how we value our salvation!
The Bible notes, "you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God" ( 1 Peter 1:23). Our inheritance is of surpassing value. Paul urges us, “Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” ( Phil 2:12). We should treat our salvation with pure joy, eager in anticipation of a great reward, forsaking any suffering we may experience here on earth, because ours is a great inheritance!
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, what a privilege to receive an inheritance from you, that is pure and priceless, and compares to nothing else, and may you through the power of the Holy Spirit help me guard it jelously, till that day of glory, this I pray in Jesus's name.
